Test Subject
A terrifying creature covered in fine black scales stood quietly inside the cage. It had a long, slender tail, and its front legs were shorter than its hind legs. Its feet touched the ground, and its claws were long and sharp, like knives embedded in its forelimbs. Long bone spurs jutted from its head, back, and the joints of its limbs, giving it a savage appearance.
Several gleaming silver metal plates and unfamiliar devices covered its body. Signal lights blinked, making the unknown monster look even more bizarre.
Locks were fastened around its limbs, keeping the monster securely confined inside the cage.
"A dinosaur?"
Lieutenant Colonel Abel turned around and stared at Dr. Moller in disbelief, then looked at Chairman Demville.
If it weren't for the lack of the Alien's iconic elongated head, he would have unhesitatingly identified the monster in the cage as one.
"..."
Chairman Demville shrugged. He really couldn't explain all the high-tech creations coming out of the Moller Institute.
"It's neither a dinosaur nor an Alien."
Dr. Moller wagged a finger. He seemed to have guessed what Lieutenant Colonel Abel was thinking, and continued, "It's currently just an experimental prototype for a conceptual biological weapon. It has a temporary name: Claw 15. The final mass-produced model will be called Nightmare."
"Claw? That's quite fitting." Lieutenant Colonel Abel nodded, raising an eyebrow as he continued, "So there were prototypes 14, 13, 12, and so on before this?"
"That's right, but all the earlier ones were failures. They've all been destroyed. Claw 15 is the creation I'm most satisfied with so far."
Dr. Moller rummaged around in his clothes, finally pulling out an eight-inch tablet. He tapped and swiped at the screen a few times, bringing up a series of video clips that he proceeded to